View source for Skim (comics)

{{Short description|Canadian graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki}}
{{Infobox graphic novel
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> 
| title        = Skim
| image        = Skim_bookcover.jpg
| imagesize    = 200
| caption      = Cover of the first edition of ''Skim''.
| publisher    = Groundwood Books
| date         = 2008
| origlanguage = English
| origisbn     = 978-0-88899-753-1
| writers      = [[Mariko Tamaki]]
| artists      = [[Jillian Tamaki]]
}}
'''''Skim''''' is a Canadian [[graphic novel]] written by [[Mariko Tamaki]] and drawn by [[Jillian Tamaki]].  Set in 1993, in a [[Toronto]] Catholic girls high school, it is about an outsider girl called Skim.

==Plot==
Skim is a "FATTY" sixteen-year-old [[Japanese-Canadian]] who is a student at an all-girls Catholic school. She is known as a [[Goth subculture|Goth]], and practices [[Wicca]]. When popular girl Katie Matthews gets dumped by her athlete boyfriend, who days later kills himself, the entire school goes into mourning overdrive. With the school counsellors breathing down her neck and the popular clique (including Katie's best friend Julie Peters) forming a new club, Girls Celebrate Life (GCL), in its wake, Skim finds herself in the crosshairs, deepening her alienation. And if things cannot get more complicated, Skim starts to fall for an equally quirky teacher.

==Characters==
* '''Kimberly Keiko Cameron''', a.k.a. '''"Skim":''' a [[Wicca]]n, [[Gothic fashion|Gothic]], Japanese-Canadian schoolgirl.
** Katherine Farmar of ''[[The Irish Times]]'' wrote that Kim is "an unwilling outsider", "overweight, introspective, too cynical to fit in with the “normal” kids [...] but not cynical enough to maintain a veneer of cool aloofness".<ref name=Farmar>{{cite web|last=Farmar|first=Katherine|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/capturing-the-complexity-of-kim-s-world-1.702634|title=Capturing the complexity of Kim's world|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=2009-07-18|accessdate=2021-02-01}}</ref>
** Her ethnic background is relevant to two scenes in the comic, including an incident at Julie Peters' birthday party where Kim and another girl are kicked out of the party. Suzette Chan of [[Sequential Tart]] stated that Kim does not frequently "stake her identity" on her Japanese Canadian background.<ref name=Okip229>Oki, Emma. "They All Look Alike? Representations of East Asian Americans in Adrian Tomine's ''Shortcomings'' and ''Scenes from an Impending Marriage''" In: Ayaka, Carolene and Ian Hague (editors). ''Representing Multiculturalism in Comics and Graphic Novels''. [[Routledge]], November 20, 2014. {{ISBN|1317687167}}, 9781317687160. Start: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=qEaLBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA228 228]. CITED: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=qEaLBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA229 229].</ref>
* '''Lisa Soor:''' Skim's best friend (and fellow Wiccan), although they are beginning to drift apart.
** Jacqueline Danziger-Russell, author of ''Girls and Their Comics: Finding a Female Voice in Comic Book Narrative'', stated that the comic normally depicts Lisa as "a rude and selfish girl".<ref name=Danziger-Russellp96>Danziger-Russell, Jacqueline. ''Girls and Their Comics: Finding a Female Voice in Comic Book Narrative''. [[Rowman & Littlefield]], 2013. {{ISBN|0810883759}}, 9780810883758. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=uQ6zD2RaQHMC&pg=PA96 96].</ref> Kim does not tell Lisa about her feelings for Ms. Archer,<ref name=Danziger-Russellp96/> and the girls drift apart.<ref name=Danziger-Russellp99>Danziger-Russell, Jacqueline. ''Girls and Their Comics: Finding a Female Voice in Comic Book Narrative''. [[Rowman & Littlefield]], 2013. {{ISBN|0810883759}}, 9780810883758. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=uQ6zD2RaQHMC&pg=PA99 99].</ref> Marni Stanley, author of "Unbalanced on the Brink: Adolescent Girls and the Discovery of the Self in ''Skim'' and ''This One Summer'' by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki," stated that Lisa "is not very nice to [Kim]."<ref>Stanley, [[Google Books]] [https://books.google.com/books?id=H2olDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT193 PT193].</ref> In the conclusion the girls are not as close friends as they were but still are friends; Lisa finds her first love even though she previously does not believe in love.<ref name=Danziger-Russellp100>Danziger-Russell, Jacqueline. ''Girls and Their Comics: Finding a Female Voice in Comic Book Narrative''. [[Rowman & Littlefield]], 2013. {{ISBN|0810883759}}, 9780810883758. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=uQ6zD2RaQHMC&pg=PA100 100].</ref>
* '''Ms. Archer:''' The school's [[English language|English]] and [[drama]] teacher, also the only teacher at the school that Skim respects, although she is flaky.
** Ms. Archer gives a lot of attention to Kim, who is infatuated with her; Danziger-Russell stated that the attention is "unhealthy".<ref name=Danziger-Russellp96/> Kim and Ms. Archer kiss, but Ms. Archer leaves the school afterwards,<ref name="Danziger-Russellp97"/> causing Kim to perceive abandonment.<ref name=Danziger-Russellp99/> Danzinger-Russell stated that after Ms. Archer ends their relationship, Kim "feels a confused mixture of rage, sadness, and self-pity."<ref name=Danziger-Russellp97>Danziger-Russell, Jacqueline. ''Girls and Their Comics: Finding a Female Voice in Comic Book Narrative''. [[Rowman & Littlefield]], 2013. {{ISBN|0810883759}}, 9780810883758. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=uQ6zD2RaQHMC&pg=PA97 97].</ref>
** Ms. Archer lives on Deneuve Street, a reference to [[Catherine Deneuve]].<ref name=StanleyPT192>Stanley, PT [https://books.google.com/books?id=H2olDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT192 192].</ref>
* '''Katie Matthews:''' a popular girl at the school, the former girlfriend of John and former best friend of Julie. She later befriends Skim, becoming closer after she defends Katie during the dance. Katie becomes estranged from the GCL girls.<ref name=Danziger-Russellp99/> Danziger-Russell wrote that Katie "turns out to be a deceptively deep and respectful friend, the type of friend that Lisa never was."<ref name=Danziger-Russellp100/> Katie appears on the final page in the area where Kim previously develops her relationship with Ms. Archer. Danziger-Russell stated it is up to the reader to determine whether Katie and Kim become romantically involved.<ref name=Danziger-Russellp100/>
* '''John Reddear:''' Katie's former boyfriend. A star [[volleyball]] player at a neighboring boys' school. After dumping Katie, he kills himself by overdosing on his mother's heart medication.  He is rumored to be [[homosexuality|gay]].
** Stanley stated that the purpose of the rumors is to show Kim's classmates' low opinion of homosexuality; according to Stanley the story is not definitive on John's sexuality but the veracity of the rumors is immaterial to the story.<ref>Stanley, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=pGckDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA198 198].</ref>
* '''Julie Peters:''' Another popular girl, Katie's best friend (at first) and founder/president of the GCL Club. Skim later confronts her for what she really is: "a know-it-all pain in the butt".
** John A. Lent described her in the ''[[International Journal of Comic Art]]'' as Skim's school's "authoritative teen drama queen" who determines the "touchy-feely" tone there.<ref>Lent, John A. ''[[International Journal of Comic Art]]'', 2009. Volume 11, Issue 2. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=dStLAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Katie+Matthews%22+%22Julie+Peters%22 313]</ref>
* '''Anna Canard:''' Another GCL Club member, whom Lisa associates with more as the story progresses. She's a big-mouthed, boy-crazy gossip, although Katie thinks (as to Skim) that she's a big slut and has the [[herpes|cold sores]] to prove it.

==Development==
''Skim'' was originally thought of as a "[[gothic Lolita]] story", and what eventually became part I of the story was run as a 30-page preview in an indie magazine.<ref>{{cite news | title = Skim: Tales of a Teenage Wicca | newspaper = PW Comics Week | date = March 3, 2008 | first = Kate | last = Culkin	  | url =http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/12476-skim-tales-of-a-teenage-wicca.html | publisher = Publishers Weekly}}</ref>  Mariko Tamaki wrote the story much like a play's script, and Jillian Tamaki illustrated the novel as she saw fit.<ref>{{cite web|first =Jessica |last = Taylor | location = Toronto |url= http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx?AFF_TYPE=3&STORY_ID=4468&PUB_TEMPLATE_ID=3 |title= Skim, a beautiful graphic novel |publisher=Xtra! |date=2008-03-13 |access-date=2012-02-10}}</ref>

==Art style==
The splash pages usually have Kim's diary entries rather than speech bubbles as the narrative vehicle.<ref name=StanleyPT192/>

Jillian Tamaki stated that she was influenced more by [[ukiyo-e]] than she initially believed.<ref name=Okip229/>

==Reception==
Reception was positive. In their review, ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' called ''Skim'' an "auspicious graphic novel debut" with a "fine ear for dialogue" that is "rich in visuals and observations".<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-88899-753-1 | title =  Reviews > 978-0-88899-753-1 "Skim" | magazine = Publishers Weekly| date = 2008-02-25}}</ref> [[Paul Gravett]] called it "the most sophisticated and sensitive North American graphic novel debut of the year."<ref>{{Cite journal | title = PG Tips No. 21: Paul Gravett's Recommended Reading | url = http://paulgravett.com/index.php/articles/article/pg_tips_no._21 | first = Paul |last = Gravett | date = July 27, 2008 | journal = Comics International}}</ref>  In ''Kliatt'' it said that the narrative manages to avoid the usual cliches of a coming of age story.<ref>{{cite journal|author= Galuschak, George|title=Tamaki, Mariko: ''Skim'' |journal=Kliatt  |date= 1 May 2008|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-179159884.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225423/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-179159884.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}{{subscription required}}</ref>  The Suzanne Alyssa Andrew of ''Toronto Star'' compared the story to ''[[Dead Poets Society]]'' and ''[[Heathers]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first =Suzanne Alyssa |last = Andrew |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Books/article/420881 |title=Hell is Grade 10 in private school |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |date=2008-05-04 |access-date=2012-02-10}}</ref> Elizabeth Spires of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that it "deepens with successive rereadings."<ref>{{cite news|last=Spires|first=Elizabeth|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/books/review/Spires-t.html|title=Always a Little Depressed|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2008-11-09|access-date=2017-11-08}}</ref>

The [[Cooperative Children’s Book Center]] recommended ''Skim'' for ages 14 and up,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailBook.asp?idBooks=2461 |title=CCBC Recommended Books |publisher=Cooperative Children's Book Center |year=2008 |access-date=2012-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214120357/http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailBook.asp?idBooks=2461 |archive-date=2012-02-14 }}</ref> saying that Skim's struggles have universal qualities.<ref>{{cite journal | url =http://bccb.lis.illinois.edu/2008/May2008/0508big.html |title = Skim | journal = The Bulletin | date = May 2008}}</ref> The ''Metro News'' praised that the narrative voice sounds authentic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/Entertainment/article/36959 |title=Metro - Teenage tale Skim is a true gem |publisher=Metronews.ca |access-date=2012-02-10}}</ref>

''Skim'' was listed as one of the [[Young Adult Library Services Association]]'s 2009 Great Graphic Novels for Teens award.<ref>{{citation | title = 2009 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens | url = http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklists/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/09top10 | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Young Adult Library Services Association]]}}</ref>  Skim also won the 2008 [[Ignatz Award]] for Outstanding Graphic Novel.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.spxpo.com/2008-ignatz-award-recipients | title = 2008 Ignatz Award Recipients | date = November 1, 2008 | publisher = Small Press Expo}}</ref>

''Skim'' was nominated in four categories in the 2009 [[Eisner Awards]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://comicsbeat.com/2009-eisner-award-nominees/ | title=2009 Eisner Award nominees | publisher=The Beat | date=2009-04-07}}</ref> and won Best Book at the 2009 [[Doug Wright Award]]s.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/outsider-tale-skim-quirky-history-comics-nab-cartooning-awards-1.781686 | title = Outsider tale Skim, quirky History Comics nab cartooning awards | date= May 10, 2009 | first= Jessica |last = Wong | publisher = CBC News}}</ref>

''Skim'' was a finalist for the [[2008 Governor General's Awards]] in the children's literature category. The [[Canada Council for the Arts]], the award program's administrator, faced some criticism around the fact that the nomination was credited to Mariko Tamaki, who wrote the graphic novel's text, but not to her cousin and co-creator Jillian Tamaki, who drew the illustrations. Jillian later said she was "extremely disappointed" that she had not been included in the nomination.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thismagazine.ca/issues/2009/03/inprofile_tamaki.php |title=This Magazine: Worth a thousand words? |publisher=Thismagazine.ca |access-date=2012-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217044342/http://www.thismagazine.ca/issues/2009/03/inprofile_tamaki.php |archive-date=2012-02-17 }}</ref> Two prominent Canadian graphic novelists, [[Seth (cartoonist)|Seth]] and [[Chester Brown]], circulated an open letter to the Canada Council asking them to revise the nomination,<ref>{{cite news | url = http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2008/11/12/seth-and-chester-brown-s-open-letter-to-the-governor-general-s-award.aspx | title = Seth and Chester Brown's open letter to the Governor General's Literary Award | first1 = Seth | last1 = Brown | first2 = Chester | last2 = Brown | newspaper = [[National Post]] | date = November 13, 2008 | access-date = January 7, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}{{dead link|date=July 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> arguing that unlike a more traditional illustrated book, a graphic novel's text and illustration are inseparable parts of the work's narrative, and that both women should accordingly be credited as equal co-authors. Their letter was also endorsed by other prominent Canadian and American graphic novelists, including [[Lynda Barry]], [[Dan Clowes]], [[Art Spiegelman]], [[Chris Ware]] and [[Julie Doucet]], as well as by Chris Oliveros of Canadian comic and graphic novel publisher [[Drawn & Quarterly]], and Peter Birkemore of Toronto comic store The Beguiling.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/entertainment/story.html?id=11023bb4-85dc-4052-be49-2f7077ec6e15 | title = Artist left out by awards | newspaper = [[Calgary Herald]] | date = November 15, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121105122005/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/entertainment/story.html?id=11023bb4-85dc-4052-be49-2f7077ec6e15 | archive-date = November 5, 2012 }}</ref> Melanie Rutledge, a spokesperson for the Canada Council, responded that it was too late to revise the nominations for the 2008 awards, but that the council would take the feedback into account in the future.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081114.wgg14/BNStory/Entertainment/home | title = Canada Council won't revisit graphic-novel nod | newspaper = [[The Globe and Mail]] | date = November 14, 2008 | access-date = September 11, 2017 | archive-date = November 15, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081115010423/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081114.wgg14/BNStory/Entertainment/home | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Later, both Jillian and Mariko Tamaki applied for and received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts to launch ''Skim'' in Spain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jilliantamaki.com/sketchbook/2009/04/skim-news.html |title=Jillian Tamaki Illustration: Skim News |publisher=Jilliantamaki.com |date=2009-04-14 |access-date=2012-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219025112/http://www.jilliantamaki.com/sketchbook/2009/04/skim-news.html |archive-date=2012-02-19 }}</ref>

In 2023, the book was banned, in [[Clay County School District (Florida)|Clay County District Schools, Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=District Reconsideration List |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iP1nVObzc_x1LgOUTEwf7w_t9Q7j4zRXan_mTL_6k0I/edit?gid=369888666#gid=369888666 |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
* Stanley, Marni ([[Vancouver Island University]]). "Unbalanced on the Brink: Adolescent Girls and the Discovery of the Self in ''Skim'' and ''This One Summer'' by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki" (Chapter 12). In: Abate, Michelle Ann and Gwen Athene Tarbox (editors). ''[[Graphic Novels for Children and Young Adults: A Collection of Critical Essays]]''. [[Univ. Press of Mississippi]], April 27, 2017. {{ISBN|1496811682}}, 9781496811684.

===Reference notes===
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Fink, Marty. "[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21604851.2013.779875?src=recsys&journalCode=ufts20 ''It Gets Fatter'': Graphic Fatness and Resilient Eating in Mariko and Jillian Tamaki's ''Skim'']." ''[[Fat Studies]]''. Volume 2, 2013. Issue 2: Visual Representations of Fat and Fatness. p.&nbsp;132-146. [https://doi.org/10.1080/21604851.2013.779875 10.1080/21604851.2013.779875]. Published online: 22 May 2013.
*Chan, Suzette. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20060302161636/http://sequentialtart.com/archive/oct05/art_1005_3.shtml This Is the Story of Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki. So Read On.]."<!--Referred to by Oki--> ''[[Sequential Tart]]''. October 2005.

==External links==
*[https://houseofanansi.com/products/skim Skim] at [[House of Anansi Press]] 
*[http://www.groundwoodbooks.com/gw_titles.cfm?pub_id=1233 Skim at Groundwood Books' website]
*[http://jilliantamaki.com/books/skim/ Skim] at Jillian Tamaki Illustration
*[http://www.marikotamaki.com/ Mariko Tamaki's official website]
*[https://gulfcoastmag.org/index.php?n=2&si=52&s=3271 "Thinking in Comics: A Roundtable on the Present and Future of the Graphic Novel featuring Matt Kindt, Hope Larson, Nate Powell, Dash Shaw, James Sturm, Jillian Tamaki, and Will Wilkinson" in ''Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts'' (26.1)]

{{Mariko Tamaki}}
{{Canadian comics}}
{{Japanese-Canadian relations}}

[[Category:2000s LGBTQ novels]]
[[Category:2008 Canadian novels]]
[[Category:2008 LGBTQ-related literary works]]
[[Category:Books by Mariko Tamaki]]
[[Category:Canadian bildungsromans]]
[[Category:Canadian graphic novels]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ novels]]
[[Category:Doug Wright Award winners for Best Book]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1993]]
[[Category:Ignatz Award winners for Graphic Novel]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related graphic novels]]
[[Category:Novels set in Toronto]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in Ontario]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in the 1990s]]